Why was Jesus born? Most of us would answer that He was born to die. That is true. He was born to die. He was born to be the perfect sin sacrifice for sinners. He did not come to die by happenstance or accident. He came in the “fullness of time” (Galatians 4:4). He came at the Father’s behest and according to His eternal timetable.

In what way was Jesus born in the fullness of time? Here are some thoughts. The Bible prophesied that the Messiah would die by crucifixion (Psalm 22:16, Zechariah 12:10). Crucifixion was the Roman’s primary mode of execution for those judged guilty and condemned to death. The Romans crucified the guilty; Jews did not. Jews stoned those condemned to death. Jesus was born during the Roman occupation of Palestine and thus was subject to crucifixion. Jesus had to be born during the Roman occupation in order to die by crucifixion. It was the fullness of time.

The Romans were famous for building roads to connect their empire. Jesus was born in a time when the Roman roads made the spread of the gospel easier and quicker.

Although Rome conquered the world, Greece conquered the culture. The people of the Roman Empire spoke, wrote, and read koinē (common) Greek. Greek was the common language of the people. This meant that when the authors of the New Testament wrote, it could be copied, read, and understood by the masses. It was the fullness of time.

Jesus was born during Pax Romana, the Roman Peace. At His birth, there was general peace throughout the Roman Empire. Peace is critical for the spread of the gospel because peace permits men and women to consider the claims of the gospel free from the distractions of conflict and war.

 Finally, the Jews anticipated a Messiah would come. They knew the prophecy of Malachi 3:1, “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lordof hosts.” They heard the preaching of John the Baptist and went out to be baptized by him in the Jordan River for forgiveness of their sins in preparation for the Messiah. The anticipation of the coming of the Messiah was high. He was expected. It was the fullness of time.

Is it the “fullness of time” for you? Christmas celebrates the Messiah’s birth.  Is it time for Jesus the Messiah to be born in you? That truly would be a . . .

Merry Christmas,

Irv